CITIZEN CENTRIC REPORTING

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CITIZEN CENTRIC REPORTING

• Advancing Government Accountability and
  Transparency

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CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTING
The Problem
Citizens Believe

• AGA Survey (2010)
• Dissatisfied citizens
• Reporting too technical
• Distrust in government

• Entitled to transparent financial information
• Governments have an obligation to provide this
  information

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CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTING
The Answer

• Citizen Centric Reporting
• General Guidelines
• Short (four pages)
• Understandable
• Easy to read
• Informative

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Easy to Construct A Report
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Best Practices in Developing a Report
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Constructing a Report Page 1
What is the Government Chartered to do?

• Vision Statement
• Strategic Goals
• How the government is organized
• Demographics
• Table to Contents

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Constructing a Report Page 2
Performance Information on Key Missions and
Service

• Obtain input from citizens on what measures they
  would like to see included
• Report on non-financial outcomes for 3 or 4 key
  missions or services (public safety, public
  health, roads, parks and recreation, schools)

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Constructing a Report Page 2
Performance Information on Key Missions and
Service (contd)
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Constructing a Report Page 3
Revenues and Expenditures

• Include revenue and cost data for major areas
• Use pie charts
• Reference audit conducted
• Reference website for detailed financial
  information

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Constructing a Report Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook

• Include items specific to the community that will
  have future effects (economic changes, tax cuts
  or increases, major new employer, employer
  leaving, unemployment, technological
  improvements, infrastructure improvements,
  education, environmental aspects, being
  transparent, etc)
• Ask for feedback by including a contact name and
  contact information

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Constructing a Report Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook (contd)
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Constructing A Report
Design Guidelines

• Visual Appeal Readability
• Use of Pictures and Graphics, Color
• Ample White Space (not
• text heavy
• Free of technical jargon
• Professional designer or publishing software

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Distribute the Report/Feedback

• Print in local newspaper
• Post to website
• Print bulk copies libraries, grocery stores,
  city hall
• Hold a press conference
• Governors office and government officials
• Activist groups

• Ask for feedback
• Web statistics
• Calls to office
• Mentions in the media

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Completed Reports

• AGA
• Local Governments
• City of Bellevue, WA
• City of Columbus, IN
• City and County of Denver
• City of Jefferson, MO
• City of Lancaster, MA
• City of Las Vegas, NM
• City of Palo Alto, CA
• City of Portland, OR
• City of Portsmouth, VA
• City of Saco, ME
• City of Stamford, CT
• City of Tallahassee, FL

• The District of Columbia
• The Village of Los Lunas, NM
• Beavercreek Township Fire Dept, OH
• Benton County Treasurer, WA
• Blount County, TN
• Guilford County, NC
• King County, WA
• Maricopa County, AZ
• Metro Govt of Nashville/Davidson Cnty, TN
• Palm Beach County Tax Collector, FL
• Springfield-Greene County Health Dept, MO
• St Louis County, MN

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Completed Reports (Contd)

• State Governments
• Idaho State Police
• State of Idaho
• State of Maryland
• MA Developmental Disabilities Council
• State of Nevada
• State of New York
• State of Oregon
• State of South Carolina
• TN Comptroller of the Treasury
• State of Texas
• State of Washington
• State of Washington Audit

• Federal Government
• US Coast Guard
• Denali Commission
• General Services Administration
• National Science Foundation
• The Architect of the Capitol
• Treasury Franchise Fund
• USAID
• US Department of Defense
• US Department of the Interior
• Other
• FMI Canada
• The University of Guam
• Guam Public School System

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Incentives

• Certificate of Excellence in Citizen-Centric
  Reporting (and Achievement Certificate)
• Peer Reviewed
• Chapter Recognition Bonus Credits
• Make contact with a government, encourage them
  to produce and publish a four-page Citizen
  Centric Report100 credits per contact made
• Government that you contacted produces and
  publishes a four-page Citizen Centric Report500
  credits per published report

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Tools and Guidance Online

• Content Guidelines
• Design Guidelines
• Completed Reports
• www.agacgfm.org/citizen

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SUMMARY

• The Problem
• Dissatisfied citizens
• Distrust
• The solution
• Citizen Centric Reporting Model
• Increased transparency

• The benefits
• Reliable source of information
• Improved relationship between citizen and
  government
• Increased accountability
• Increased civic involvement by citizens
• Informed Citizenry